10 Great Outdoor Cinemas In London (& Nearby) 2024

Make the most of sunnier evenings by catching one of your favourite movies in the great outdoors. From cathedrals to castles, parks to palaces, screens are popping up all over the capital. Check out our guide to the best outdoor cinemas for 2023.

The C&TH Film Hub

Best Outdoor Cinemas In London 2024

Everyman On The Water

New for 2024: Everyman on the Water is taking over the Brentford Project this summer, for an idyllic waterfront setting for an array of unforgettable screenings. Kicking off with comprehensive Wimbledon coverage from 1–14 July, films range from classics (think Dirty Dancing and Clueless) to new flicks you’ve been meaning to catch (Barbie, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, Top Gun: Maverick, and plenty more). See the full film line up here. It’s totally free to attend, so grab your friends and head on down – just make sure you arrive early enough to bag a seat.

Details: 1 July–31 August at The Brentford Project (Catherine Wheel Road, Hounslow London TW8 8BD). everymancinema.com

Barbican Outdoor Cinema 2024

This limited time summer cinema pop-up is perhaps the most sophisticated on our list. Head to the Barbican’s Sculpture Court to find a giant screen showing cult classics and international gems alongside street food and drinks. Kicking off with The Grand Budapest Hotel, films will kick off every evening at 8.30pm for just under two weeks. See the full line-up here.

Details: 21 August–1 September 2024 at the Barbican. Tickets are £18pp and can be booked at barbican.org.uk

Everyman In The Garden

As if we needed another reason to book a stay at luxurious Hertfordshire hotel The Grove, its pop-up outdoor cinema is returning this summer: Everyman in the Garden. The screen is located in the beautiful Walled Garden, with a programme of films old and new being shown from July through to September. Expect to watch classics like Mamma Mia!, The Devil Wears Prada and Notting Hill or newbies like Anyone But You, Barbie and Wonka, with various dinner packages available across the hotel’s impressive array of restaurants. See the full film lineup here. Not to be missed are the special screenings preceded by live music:

• Sunday 28 July: The Greatest Showman
• Wednesday 7 August: Pretty Woman
• Sunday 18 August: Phantom of the Opera
• Saturday 24 August: The Greatest Showman – with bonus fireworks

Cosy up in one of the beanbags, pop your headphones on and grab a drink and some snacks from the pop-up bar. Popcorn and prosecco? Don’t mind if we do.

Details: 18 July–8 September 2024 at The Grove (Chandler’s Cross, Watford WD3 4TG). thegrove.co.uk

Summer By The River

Over at The Scoop is another of the best outdoor cinemas in London, hosting a stellar line-up of films on Tuesday nights. Think Barbie, Wonka, Back to the Future and plenty more. If you’re a sports fan, this is the place to be: Wimbledon, the Olympics and Test Cricket will all be screened here all summer long, too.

Details: Until 1 September at The Scoop (London SE1 2AA). Find out more at londonbridgecity.co.uk

Adventure Cinema

With over 60 open-air locations scattered across the UK, Adventure Cinema is back for 2024, screening classic, show-stopping films in breathtaking locations all summer long.

Where? Running until October 2024. Venues in London include Charlton House & Gardens and Osterley Park and House, while nearby there’s Ashridge House in Hertfordshire, Hylands Estate in Essex,  and Polesden Lacey in Surrey. adventurecinema.co.uk

Open House

If you didn’t snag BST Hyde Park tickets, you can still visit the buzzy site during the week. Best of all, a series of films will be screened with Mean Girls, Barbie and Wayne’s World all on the schedule. It’s totally free, but being a headphones cinema, spots are strictly first come, first served.

Details: 28 June–11 July 204 at Open House, BST Hyde Park, London. Find out more at bst-hydepark.com

Rooftop Film Club

London’s coolest outdoor cinema spot is in full swing at both outposts: Roof East in Stratford and Bussey Building in Peckham. Grab your bottomless popcorn and settle in for the likes of Anyone But You, Saltburn and The Godfather. Screenings span the weekdays and weekend, so you can perk up a terrible Tuesday at work with a dreamy date night (double lounge seats are bookable) or relax into the weekend by watching a comforting classic. You’ll also be given wireless headphones to make sure you’re not distracted by the outside world.

Details: Screenings most days at both the Stratford (Rooftop Film Club Roof East, Great Eastern Road, London E15 1BB) and Peckham (Roof A, Bussey Building, 133 Rye Lane, London SE15 4ST) venues. rooftopfilmclub.com

Summer Screen At Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens

South of the river, Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens will host its annual Summer Screen again in 2024, showing a film every Tuesday evening from 9–30 July, kicking off with Encanto. Screenings are free, though you have to book a ticket – so pack a picnic and settle down on a blanket.

Details: Tuesdays from 9–30 July 2024 at Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens. See the full line-up and book at tickettailor.com

Everyman On The Canal

Located across the water from the Ghat Steps in King’s Cross, Everyman on the Canal is another Everyman pop-up back for another season in 2024. The best part? It’s totally free – but make sure you arrive early to nab a seat. Kicking off on 1 July with Wimbledon, the huge screen will show a plethora of films everyday for six weeks: two in the afternoon (once Wimbledon is done and dusted) and two in the evening, kicking off with The Little Mermaid and Dirty Dancing. You can see the full film line-up here. Staggered seating of beanbags and and loungers means everyone can see the screen well, and guests can enjoy food from Everyman’s menu which includes burgers, wine and cocktails. 

Details: 1 July–18 August at Regent’s Canal Towpath (London N1C 4PQ). No booking needed. kingscross.co.uk

Summer Screens At Canary Wharf

Another free outdoor cinema in London for 2024 is Canary Wharf’s annual Summer Screen in Canada Square Park. Visitors can expect comprehensive sport coverage spanning Wimbledon to F1, plus a stellar line-up of films, from family friendly favourites to blockbusters – think Coco, Black Panther, Jaws, Groundhog Day and plenty more. See the full line-up here.

Details: 30 May–8 September 2024 at Canada Square Park (Canary Wharf, London). See more details at canarywharf.com